Shoe stretcher



.H. WATERS. K' SHOE STRETCHERH 'APPLICATION FILEDJUNE 16, 192x. RENEWEDAue. 8,1922.

,mm-@661, l mentedsept. 19,1922

4 v /sronwfra- Patented Sept. 18?, 1922.

PATENT @i it? i? i Q h HENRY WATERS, OE BISBEE, ARIZONA.

SHOE STRETCHER.

Application'led .Tune 16, 1921, Serial No. 478,101. Renewed August 8,1922." Serialill'o.` 580,546.

To all fuif/2.0m 'it 'muy concer/t.'

Be it known that l, I-lnirnYVi-rrnus, a citiren of the United States,and a resident of Bisbee, in the county of Cochise and vState ofArizona, have invented certain new and useful mprovements in ShoeStretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stretching'devices especially adapted for usein shoes.

Au important object of this invention is to provide a shoe stretcherhaving novel means whereby either the forwarder rear end of thestretcher body may be readily spread for stretching either the toe orintermediate portion of a shoe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoe stretchercomprising means whereby the shoe may be stretched longitudinally.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following'description.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective of the improved shoe stretcher.

Figure 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view through thesame.

Figure 3 is a group perspective of a' spreading device embodied in theinvention.

Figure i is a group perspective of a hinge embodied in the invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective of a hinge pin adapted for use in connectionwith the hinge illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure G is a detailed horizontal sectional view through the improvedstretcher, the view illustrating the application of the spreading meansfor the movable sections.

Figure 7 is a perspective of a cross head forming` a part of theinvention.

lu the drawing the numerals 5 designate a pair of similarly formedcoacting sections h aving their opposed sides formed with longitudinallycurved grooves 6 defining channel within which a spreading memberlgenerally designated by the numeral 8 is slidably arranged. Withreference to Figure 6 it will be observed that the intermediate portionsof the grooves 6 have their bottom walls formed with depressions ornotches 10 which receive the stretching-block 8 whereby the sections 5may flatly contact with each other. wWhen the spreading block 8 ispositioned Within the depressions or vnotches 10 it is in what might betermed a neutral position since neither the forward nor the rear end ofthe device is spread. However, the grooves 6 gradually decrease in depthtowards the ends of the sections 5 from the depressions'. 10 so that asthe spreading block 8 is moved either forwardly orrearwardly thesections 5 will be spread. 'The spreading member 8 comprises sections 12and 13, the section 13 being provided with ears 14 extended on oppositesides of the section 12 and pivotally connected to the same by means ofa pin 15. By reason of this construction the spreading block generallydesignated by the numeral 8 is permitted to partake of free slidingmover'nent in the channel formed by the opposed grooves 6 which arecurved longitudinally.. The forward endv of the section 12 is rounded asindicated at 16 and is received within a transversely curved groove inthe rear portion of the section 13.

The means for movingthe adjusting block 8 longitudinally of the sections5 includes a feed screw 18 having its forward end v formed with areduced neck 2O terminating in an enlarged head 21 preferably ofspheri-V cal formation. The head 21 is adapted to enter an opening inthe section 12 by means of a transverse slot 24 extending out throughone side of the section`12 and having screw threads whereby a retainingscrew 25 may be threaded into the section for holding the head 21 inposition.

A cross head 28 is arranged in registering recesses 3() in the oppositesidesl of the sections 5 and is provided' with a transverse interiorlyscrew threaded opening 31 for the reception of the feed or adjustingscrew 18. Pins 32 extend from the ends of the cross head and are freelyreceived in openings 34 extended out through the sides of the sections5. When the feed screw 18 is rotated the same will be 'movedlongitudinally for imparting a corresponding movement to the spreading`block 8 for separat, ing either the forward or rear portions of thedevice.

The rear portion of the feed screw is provided with a handle'85 by meansof which the'feed screw may be manually rotated for adjusting the widthof the device. When it is desired to stretch the shoe longitudinally aheel section 36 having a longitudinally slotted arm 37 may be connectedto the feed screw by means of a nut 38 with heads 46 which constitutestop elements to limit the sliding movement of the sections withrelation to each other. The sections 5 may also lpartake of a hingedmovement withTelation vto `each other since -the squared hinge' pin 42.is lformed of a pair of-sections pivotally connected as indicated at48. The pivotal .connection 48 of the hinge pin `42 is between ythebarrels 41 and permits the `ltorward portions of the spreader sections 5to be swung outwardly whenthe member 8 is advanced.

The `toe of the shoe may be slightly ele` vated byA .means of a toe,plate 50 having a shank 51 -which is slidable between the secf tions 5andfwhich is provided witha base plate y52 slidable in the grooves 6.5

As illustrated in Figure 3, the rear portion of the base vplate 52 isformed with rearwardly `directed apertured Iears 54 adapted to rbearranged'on opposite sides of and pivotallyconnected to the Jforwardportion of thesection 12 ofthe spreading member l8 so that thelongitudinal movement of the screw 18 will result in the slidingmovementof the toev plate which may be curved transversely or otherwiseformed. In the use of the improved stretcher the toev plate 50 isapplied to the section 12 only when it is desired to force the toe ofthe shoe upwardly. e

Having thus described the invention what Ici-aim as new and' desire tosecure-.by Letters Patent is f 1. A shoe stretcher comprising a pair ofsections, hinge plates secured to the rear ends oi said sections andhaving aligned barrels, a hinge pinpassed through said barrels andinclusive of pivotally connected sections whereby the sections maypartalre oi? a hinge movement with relation to each other, and aspreading` member arranged be,- tween said sections.

2. A shoe stretcher comprising a pair of sections, hinged plates securedto the rear ends ot said sections and having aligned barrels, a hingedpin passed through said barrels and inclusivev of pivotally connectedsections vwhereby the sections may partake oi' a hinged movement withrelation to each other, a; spreading member arranged between saidsections, and a eeding'device associated with said spreading member.

3. A shoe stretcher comprising sections, hinge plates secured to therear ends of the sections and having aligned'barrels, and a hinge pinpassed through said barrels and inclusive ot pivotally connectedsections whereby vthe sections may partake of a hinge movement. i

4. A shoe stretcher comprising sections, hinge plates secured tothesections and having aligned hinge barrels, and a square hinge pinpassed through said barrels and being of a greater length than the spacebetween the ends of said'barrels whereby the sections may partake ot'vsliding movement with relation-to each other, said hinge kpin beingcomposed o1 a pair of pivotally connected sections.

5. A shoe stretcher comprising sections, hinge plates securedv to thesections and having aligned hinge barrels, a square hinge pin passedthrough said barrels and being of a greater length than they spacebetween the ends of said barrels whereby the sections may ypartake. ofsliding movement with relation to each other, said hingev pin Vbeingcomposed of 'a pair of pivotally connected sections, and means toseparate said rst named sections.

HENRY WATERS.

